The shower of self-pity turns into a monsoon. Today we learn that working at the Post Office was all that Crazy Harry ever aspired to (well, besides being an air guitar champion). But before he could hang around long enough to become the PO’s resident guru, why, those bully jocks at the post office had the nerve to expect Harry to (gasp) actually work and be productive.
Since he has only rarely been shown actually delivering mail, I’ve always imagined that in the course of his appointed rounds, Harry kind of resembled this guy:
Seriously, though, we know that the Postal Service has been struggling financially; certainly longer than since one year ago, when Batiuk got the “inspiration” for this arc. And yes, the USPS has been trimming services and branches as a result. But it’s pretty safe to say that these unionized employees are not being set adrift and left to sell their belongings in order to survive.
Son of Stuck Funky 
Oh yes, “sage advice” from Crazy Harry:
“Dope will get you through times of no money better then money will get you through times of no dope.”
Please forgive me Free Wheelin Franklin
Ha ha ha, Tom Batiuk, nice try. As boring as you can make this arc, it’s still not enough to make me say “Bring back Les!” which is obviously what you want your critics to scream.
You just go on with your trivial, meaningless plots. You’ve been doing it for so long I’m sure it’s way easy for you. We still want to punch Les in the face until he bleeds.
SAGE ADVICE??
If Harry were any sage, he’d realize that something like this may happen and be ready for it. There has been talk of closing down post offices and distributions center for years. Instead, he just wants to turn into a sad sack of crap. And this also reminded me of the SALLY FORTH storyline five or so years ago when Ted was laid off. That storyline actually made some sense.
P.S. Harry’s idea of sage advice is “With grape power comes grape responsibility.”
Two days in a row where I can give Kudos to TB. I could see this conversation happening (I coulda been somebody). Of course, it ends with no introspection on Crazy Harry’s part. Why didn’t you climb the ladder, Harry? Maybe it was because you were a layabout spending his days drinking free coffee at Montoni’s.
Still, I have to say to TB, “I want my two dollars!”
Well, first of all, it really kinda WAS his “life’s work”, wasn’t it? Second, I don’t seem to recall those “eager Harry puts his nose to the grindstone to climb through the USPS ranks” strips, do you? I DO recall lots of strips featuring an apparently on-duty Harry lounging about drinking free coffee, though. So yeah, it’s a little harder to feel too bad for the guy as he simultaneously whines and lies about his current predicament (to a comic book store guy, no less).
I can’t believe he STILL hasn’t actually sold the comics or books or whatever they are now. If they gave out Pulitzers for dragging out thin premises, BatWrite would need an addition on his house.
How many weeks of “Harry got laid off because the universe is a big meanie, pity him” are we going to get? When I lost my job I didn’t act like someone was acting out of a personal vendetta against me. Because I’m not stupid.
doesn’t wankerville pay at least 8 or 9 comics a week unemployment ??
**But it’s pretty safe to say that these unionized employees are not being set adrift and left to sell their belongings in order to survive.**
And if he wanted to be a truly edgy & provocative “it’s called writing” writer, Batuik could have told that story. From where most of of stand & look, there’s no current shortage of unionized employees “being set adrift and left to sell their belongings”–assuming they have some–” in order to survive.”
Just sayin.
What’s with Tombat’s disdain for the US Post Office? Did some carelesss mail carrier leave his monthly copy of “Texas Juggs” out in the rain again?
He thought he’d “move up the ladder to become one of the venerated senior people?” Is that why you’re still a mail carrier after 30 years, weird beard?
It’s impossible to tell if this is just Crazy’s zany, drug-addled idea of how the world works or if Batiuk sincerely believes younger public sector employees “venerate” old farts like Harry who stick around forever taking up space. Kind of like the way aspiring comic strip artists regard Batiuk.
A whining wall o’ text. Waaaah. BatDrip tries to milk more sympathy for Beardo, but the more he moans, the less we care. What kind of advice would he give? Where to go to goof off? What kind of pot to smoke? What buffet to take your fat wife to??
“Life’s work?” He was a mailman, not a medical research scientist, ferchrissake.
Dead Skunk Head: “I’m so sorry, Crazy. Hey, why don’t we share an eleven year old boy?”
It’s hard to believe this was once a pleasant little strip. Not funny – but pleasant. Please retire asshat.
30 years on the worst route in Westview and he still thinks he was in line for a promotion right up until the day they can him?!? Maybe he should have been wondering why no one ever bid for the Montoni’s route, where everyday you come back to the Post Office smelling of microwaved breakfast food and canned pizza sauce.
jp: From where most of of stand & look, there’s no current shortage of unionized employees “being set adrift and left to sell their belongings”–assuming they have some–” in order to survive.”
Just sayin.
If I sounded callous, I didn’t mean to. The point I wanted to make was I expect that as a union worker, Harry would at least have resources available to him: job placement, counseling, etc. I expect he would receive severance or unemployment consolation. I expect that an able-bodied adult with a kid in college and a mortgage and a wife and maybe two other kids to support would do something, anything besides selling off a collection which has little value to anyone but himself. Just sayin’.
Corythosaurus in panel 3. That’s cool.
I also like how Komix Korner’s Christmas decorations consist entirely of a small string of white lights wrapped around the dusty cash register.
You know, anyone who cared about these characters enough to click “About This Comic” to find out more is still going to be wondering who these old people are, and where those youngish types have gone.
TFH–my snark was directed at Batuik, not you.
The oppression of low expectations.
I love the movie Better Off Dead! That mailman seems a little young and spirited, though I do imagine Crazy Harry dropped quite a few letters in his day.
@jp Thanks! I’m a little touchy after that savaging at the hands of ReFlex76 yesterday. 🙂
“They just wanted to see how fast they could make an old dog run.” So, now you’re bitching about how you were overworked? We humble strip readers have seen plenty of evidence to the contrary.
I’m guessing your strategy for moving up the USPS ladder to fame and fortune was the same as your current strategy for finding gainful employment: Stand around whining to losers like Dead Skunk Head.
Yeah, my dad’s been a construction worker and union man his entire adult life. And while it certainly hasn’t saved him from ever being laid off (at inopportune times, for months at a time) it has provided him with a great support system–benefits, unemployment, new job placement, and a solid network of friends and contacts. When he had his heart attack three and a half years ago, they made sure that he had time to recover, and a job waiting for him when he was ready to return to work. That is (ideally) why unions exist–to have your back when you need it the most.
But this sort of overreaction is nothing new to Funkytown, is it? “Oh no, the hospital mixed up my X-rays! Clearly I must give up all treatment right now and wither away without bothering to file a malpractice suit first!” “Oh no, the mill levy didn’t pass! We have to stop all athletic programs this very instant!” Misery isn’t just a condition, it’s a pursuit of life.
@Inkwell: “When I lost my job I didn’t act like someone was acting out of a personal vendetta against me. Because I’m not stupid.”
You probably just acted like a bully jock.
Crazy need not worry about a job. Of course Funky will hire him to work at Montoni’s. Montoni’s is struggling (closed all Funky’s attempts at chains), but he strangely has plenty of money to hire all his friends– Wally full time in the kitchen, Darren full time in the office, Holly as day manger, Les as weekend manager. Maybe Funky restarts Montoni’s old VHS rental business as DVD rental and hires Crazy full time to run it. Sooner or later everyone in FW works at Montoni’s
@Jimmy: Given my history of hating on Dead Skunk Head, you’re probably right.
I’m picturing a stereotypical “bully jock” who solves everything with punches trying to do my old job: taking care of an elderly lady and fixing her soup.
I like to think that Crazy was let go as a part of deal between the managment and the Union to keep the Westview post office open. They would keep the post office open provided the union agreed having one person let go. The union agreed and threw Crazy under the bus as they all hated him – he took forever to do his routes and when he got back he spent the rest of his time in the mens room because of all the coffee he drank and to top it all off he tired to pay his dues in Tarzan comics.
I’m picturing a stereotypical “bully jock” who solves everything with punches trying to do my old job: taking care of an elderly lady and fixing her soup.
Sounds like Seanbaby’s “The Punchmaster.”
BTW, is Dead Comic Head John’s hair–is that just short grey hair, or does he shave off his hair except for the very top, or…?
BeckoningChasm: BTW, is Dead Comic Head John’s hair–is that just short grey hair, or does he shave off his hair except for the very top, or…?
It’s hard to figure out, isn’t it? It looked even freakier before his bald spot mysteriously went away.
Love the picture, TFH–looks like Crazy’s been sharing some of his ‘special blend’ with Pete for inspiration there. (Monday: “I can’t think of a Superman story!” Wednesday: “Hi Crazy! I can’t think of a Superman story!” Saturday: “Superman teams up with Swamp Thing to fight Doctor Bong!”)
This storyline has officially crossed the line into downright annoying.
How could any reasonable person expect people to find this funny, interesting, moving, provocative, amusing, clever, tender, touching, quirky, true, or worth reading after three weeks!!!
In the linked picture of Harry playing guitar, he looks like he’s in his late eighties. I mean, I know Batiuk can’t draw, but this is ridiculous.
All I have to say is that BETTER OFF DEAD was John Cusack’s second best film.
(And a true Christmas classic!)
Whatever the hell is happening on top of Meat Face John’s head, nobody his age, and nobody over 14 years old, should have that hairdo. Quirky/artsy is one thing. Creepy/weird quite another.
I’m never surprised when some union member gets kicked to the curb. Unions today exist only to make union bosses rich, and to help elect liberal Democrat candidates. (Haven’t pissed anyone off here for a while, so I guess I’m due!) Cheers to Michigan for becoming a “right to work” state. Nice kick in the balls for knuckle dragging union lunkheads and leg breakers.
So what we see here, the postal union doing NOTHING for Beardo McTazan, might be the most realistic story Battybutt has written in Act III.
Y’know, I almost feel bad for the unironic fans down at Comics Kingdom. They need to stop getting whiny over people not liking the strip– how does that hurt them?– but it must stink not having a community of fans to talk to. They could start a positive Funky blog, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t get very far.
Also, whoever has adopted the name “Bully Jock” on that site, I love them.
Man, I can’t believe this stupid story has lasted as long as it has. It’s gotten so that I wonder if there’s something specially wrong with TB that led him to do this. If nothing else, it’s just evidence of an incredible case of writer’s block.
But it could be redeemed, and that would be by showing how this whole thing is just an overblown, histrionic reaction by Crazy to his forced retirement. It reminds me of guys who break up with their girlfriends and trash their houses or cars or something in some futile gesture to show everyone just how hurt they were, and how massive their girlfriend’s betrayal was. They claim they don’t want to talk about it, but it’s all they’ll talk about, and they’ll make sure that every single person in their social circle is aware of it. And they’ll hurt themselves to do so.
So Crazy overreacts and sells off his entire book/comic book collection, which apparently all his friends knew he valued more than even his own family. He doesn’t have to do this, because, as we’ve pointed out, it’s not as if he needs that money right now desperately, and the money it’d raise really isn’t going to help him anyway. But by God, he’s going to do this, and he’s going to let everyone know he’s doing this because the horrible USPS has put him in such a position that he has no other choice.
So we go with one week where he concocts this elaborate, ridiculous conceit where he “fires” his books, in front of his friend, of course, just to show his friend how harshly he’s been treated. “You see what I’m doing with these books? Pretty harsh, right? THAT’S WHAT WAS DONE TO ME! MY EVIL EMPLOYER DID THIS, NOT TO AN INANIMATE OBJECT, BUT TO ME! UNDERSTAND NOW?”
And so he trundles off with a ridiculous-by-design large number of boxes to the trade store, his trade-ins probably amounting to half the store’s current inventory. Again, if it were a box or two, it wouldn’t show to everyone present JUST HOW TERRIBLE THE THING THAT WAS DONE TO HIM WAS. The store owner tries to talk him out of it, suggesting that maybe he doesn’t have to do this, asking him if he’s really sure he wants to trade all this in; and YOU BETTER BELIEVE HE’S GOING TO. Because, after all, if he calls it off now, he looks ridiculous. No amount of pleading or urging circumspection will work. He’s going to go through it, and he’s going to whine all the way about how terrible it all is to anyone who will listen, like Gross John this week, and Funky last week.
Now, all Crazy needs to do for the capper is to go get a UPC symbol tattooed on his forehead.
It’s the only way this storyline could be saved. Acknowledge how ridiculous and petulant Crazy has been with his reactions. It’d be a pleasant surprise and a moment of genuine reflection.
Inkwell, I decided to take first dibs on Bully Jock on the Comics site. And you’re not so bad yerself, Miss.
Maybe I’ll change my name to “Bully Jacques”
I love this strip for all the wrong reasons!
Maybe Bully Jock should get its own entry into the Batiuktionary.
Jeffcoat Wayne: Me too. I hate it, yet it’s so fascinatingly baffling I can’t look away (or not comment on it). FW never fails to find new, unexpected ways in which to bore and/or annoy me to tears.
Enabling comments on the “official” comics page was not a wise idea IMO. A “real”, un-ironic FW fan (or even both of them) could easily ignore our snarky little neck of the woods, but now it’s right in front of them every day. I don’t see that clash of ideologies working out too well. I’ll be amazed if the comments aren’t disabled soon.
Something tells me that Harry was the guy at work that you had to nag to get him to do his job and wouldn’t shut-up about comic books. And anything about the later was probably inaccurate or whiny.
Epicus, I’ve already seen some of my comments get deleted over there, so somebody is watching.